Never consent without a clear purpose: the only one way to save self-determination
Consent to the use of mobility data means permission for the collection, storage, and use of personal data. The necessity of such consent is a fundamental requirement in the use of data. Why is informed consent crucial to ethical and responsible business and how does it correlate with the purpose of data usage? These are the questions the Institute for Data Applications and Security IDAS and Posmo have dealt with while developing an efficient strategy for consent management in the ethical framework for Posmo as part of an InnoSuisse project.
Consent is always an action and act of the subject; consent obtained ‘by default’ is considered illegal and immoral. Therefore, data subjects have the right to refuse further use of their data at any time and without explanation. The procedure for such refusal of previously given consent is an important principle of socially responsible and ethical business conduct and should be as transparent and straightforward as the process of obtaining it.
Posmo, as an ethical data market, offers not only a simple and accessible procedure for obtaining data subjects’ consent, and accounting of the obtained data according to accepted ethical and legal requirements.
The procedure for obtaining data subjects’ consent includes familiarization with Privacy Policy Agreements when installing the location tracking application, with a brief and substantial description of the terms, purposes, mechanisms, and data contributors’ rights at each stage of data operations. The next step is to fill out the User Registration Form, or to enter users’ personal information. Detailed information about the principles, ethical values, and standards of Posmo’s activities is presented in the Ethical Code, which can be reviewed on the company’s website.
Obtaining agreement on the use of mobility data is a fundamental requirement in the matter of protecting privacy and the rights of data contributors. Thus, data subjects do not lose autonomy in making decisions that affect their lives and receive recognition and respect for their rights and freedoms. Consent for the purpose of using data leads to an improvement in the quality of life in the context of more personalized and efficient services, like traffic updates, route optimization, and location-based recommendations.

Different types of consent
Different types of consent are distinguished:
- Explicit Consent (direct, unambiguous consent to something, usually expressed verbally or in writing), and Implicit, or implied Consent (inferred from someone’s actions),
- Informed Consent (a person fully understands what they are consenting to, including the risks and benefits) and Uninformed Consent (when consent is given without full knowledge of the implications),
- “Opt-in” Consent (a proactive action to consent) and “Opt-out” Consent (assumed unless a person actively declines),
- Voluntary Consent (given freely, without coercion, manipulation, or undue pressure),
- Conditional Consent (given with specific conditions, without which it is invalid), Group or Collective Consent (where a community provides consent on behalf of its members).
Posmo uses the data of its contributors based on explicit, informed, “opt-in”, voluntary, and dynamic (the ability to change the timing, duration, and purposes of data use) consent as a community of people sharing the same ethical principles and values.
Awareness of the purpose of data use is an important component of Posmo’s activities not only due to the corresponding legal norms and existing practices of trust building. Such information allows for the improvement of existing mechanisms for protecting privacy and the autonomy of data subjects, implementing the principle of data minimization, preventing ‘function creep’ and associated potential risks. A clear definition of the purpose of data use helps maintain accountability and ensure responsible data management, and also makes the company’s activities transparent and understandable to the public.
Posmo envisages using mobility data for purposes such as:
- optimizing routes and improving transportation systems;
- understanding travel patterns, planning public transport routes, developing infrastructure and the city as a whole;
- for the operation of ride-sharing applications or vehicle rental services;
- for scientific or market purposes, to study human behavior, trends in mobility, environmental impact, etc.
- for the development of logistics and delivery services, optimizing store locations, advertising strategies, and supply chain logistics;
- for monitoring real estate prices and making development decisions, as areas with better connections and accessibility are in higher demand;
- for public safety purposes, such as managing evacuations during emergencies, planning responses to natural disasters, or monitoring and managing the movement of large crowds.
These are the set of Posmo`s purpose limitations for mobility data usage. This clear list enables data subjects to make informed decisions about sharing their data, preserving their right to self-determination.
Linked Projects
https://www.bfh.ch/de/forschung/forschungsprojekte/2022-470-842-714/

Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!